LAWRENCEVILLE--Coming off its most wins in nearly a decade, the Rider University volleyball team continued its upward swing with two recruits signing National Letters of Intent.

Joining the volleyball team and furthering their academic careers at Rider University next fall are Kaitlyn Griffin and Ryan Ackermann.

"We are truly excited to have Kaitlyn and Ryan join us here at Rider in 2013," said head coach Christopher Feliciano who recently completed his second season. "Both players bring a specific skill set that the staff felt we were missing last season. Both play at the net, can score when we are out of system, and have tremendous volleyball IQ's. Both are coming from winning club and high school programs and they know what it takes to be victorious. These are qualities that will be welcomed in our locker room. I expect both of them to come in right away and compete for playing time."

Griffin, a 6-1 middle blocker, comes to Lawrenceville from Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where she earned First Team All-Region (Eastern, Virginia), First Team All-Southeastern District and Southeastern District Player of the Year honors for the three-time district champion Hawks.

A team co-captain as a junior and senior, Griffin is a two-time team MVP.

Ackermann, a 5-10 outside hitter, comes to Rider from Stone Bridge High School in Virginia where she helped the Bulldogs to the Northern Region Champions and Virginia AAA State Semi-Finals.

As a senior, Ackermann earned All-Liberty District Player of the Year honors and was named to the All-Northern Region Team, the Northern Region All-Tournament Team and was an Under Armour All- America honorable mention.

Ackermann graduates as the Stone Bridge record holder in career kills with 1,250.